Apparatus for relieving tires from the weight of automobiles.



T. H. SPARKS.

APPARATUS FOR RELIEVING TIRES FROM THE WEIGHT OE AUTOMOBILES.

. APPLICATION FILED APR. 8, 1914. LI IQAGTB Patented Oct. 20, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

T. H. SPARKS. APPARATUS FOR RELIEVING TIRES FROM THE WEIGHT OF AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION TILED APR. 8, 1914. 1 1 1 4,407, Patented Oct. 20, 1914.

Z SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT: orrron.

THOMAS H. SPARKS, OF -WIGHITA, iKANSAS.

APPARATUS FOR RELIEVING TIRES FROM THE WEIGHT 0E AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Oct, 20, 1914.

Application. and Apri 8,1914. Serial. No. 830,403.

To all whom it mayconcern Be it known that-I, THOMAS H. SPARKS, a

citizen of the United States, residing-ate,

\Vichita, in the letters and figures of reference marked there-' on, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in apparatus for relieving the tires from the weight of automobiles when the machine is in a garage or in storageand consists essentially in the provision of a tilting rack which sustains the weight of the automobile and in the provision of means whereby weight of the automobile, after passing up inclined tracks, is automatically transferred to a tilting rack, thus relieving the tires upon the wheels from the weight of the machine.

My inventioncomprises various other 'details of construction, combinations and arrangements of parts which will be hereinafter fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and then specifically defined in the appended claims.

I illustrate my invention in panying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a top plan view. 'Fig. 3 1s a central longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 4 is a front end elevation, and Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of a part of the apparatus.

Reference now being had to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates the floor of the apparatus having cross beams B at one end and C intermediate the ends, preferably at the center of the flooring. Inclined tracks, designated by letter I), are supported at their inner ends upon the crosspiece C and their underedges are beveled as at D where they rest upon-the upper surface of said flooring. Qther tracks E are connected by means oi hinges F to the crosspiece C and are designed to tilt to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings. I l

The rack comprises two sills Giwhich are parallel to each other and which have crossthe accomtive adjustments upon said crosspiece.

.pass through the slots I .and afford between the standards and above the crosspiece C. Braces J 6 are fastened at portion pieces G. andintersecting bracesG Fastened to the under side of each sill, preferablya at its longitudinal center, are the concaved bearing plates H which are fulcrumed upon the upper convexed edges I of the adjustable blocks 1. Adjustable bracket standards, designated by letters J and J, have flanges J? which .areslotted as at J said ,flanges being adapted to" rest upon the crosspiece C. Bolts, designated by letter J? pass through the slots J? and also holes formed in the crosspiece C and are provided with nuts upon the t rea-ded ends and serve to hold in diiferent rela- The blocks I are provided with elongated slots 1 as shown clearly in Fig. 3, and bolts K and also through apertures in the bracket standards J and are provided with nuts upon their threaded ends means for holding the blocks I the two bracket standards in pl ace their forward ends to the crosspiece B and at their rear ends to the standards J.

' Upon reference to Fig. 3 of the drawin s, it will be noted that the lower edges of t is blocks 1 are'inclined and wedges L rest u on the upper surface of thecrosspiece and t eir upper inclined edges contact frictionally with said inclined lower edge of the blocks I and afiord means for holding the latter in different vertically adjusted positions, accordingly as it may be desired to cause the rack to tilt at different inclinations.

' Themeans for adjusting the forward end of the .rack is clearl illustrated in Figs. 3 and-4, in which it Wlll be notedthat angled posts N are provided with elongated. slots N through which bolts N pass and which bolts also pass through the slots 0 formed in the inclined braces O which are fastened at their lower ends to the crosspiece B and their upper'ends to the fixed posts B. The

lower portions of the angled posts N have perforations N and bolts N passed through slots N in the crosspiece B and which provide for the lateraladjustment of said angle posts, suitable nuts. N bein fixed to the threaded ends of said bolts An angle bar M, having .its angled portion corresponding to and. engaging over the angled of the apertures lidan M and a bolt Q, passes through an aperture-imthe angled osts and also one ofthe perforations M t e angled 0st N is provided with the vertical adjustment of the blocks I. In

throusg li are su ported by the rod S".

order to guide the rack in its tilting movements, I provide bars R, bolted or otherwise fastened to the opposite sides of each sill of the rack and which, as the rack tilts, contact F with the opposite edges of the angled posts N.

Referring to Fig. 4 of the drawings there will be seen a rock shaft S journaled in suitable b'earings upon the fixed post B, and crank arms S are fastened to the ends of said shaft S and carry pins S upon which the eyes S and S, formed respectively. at the ends of the supporting rods S and S, are journaled and which are held to the pins by means of the nuts S. The corresponding rod S has an eye S at its lower end through which the rod S passes and the lower end of each supporting rod S passes nut fitted to its threaded end. Upon reference to Fig. 4, it will be noted that the supporting rod S enga es a notch S formed in the front end 0 the track, while the supportin rod S passes through an aperture S ormed in the track, which forms means for fastening the rod S to the tracks E. Upon reference to Figs. 1 and 4 i of the drawings, it will be noted that the .free ends of the tracks E project over and Projectin from t e shaft S isa-rod T, forming a cran handle whereby the'shaft S may be rocked. The means cooperating with the crank handle T for raisin and lowering the free ends of the tracks consists of the bar P which is ivoted at P to the horizontally disposed ar P? fastened to the crosspiece -B, the upper end of the bar P having a bar P pivoted thereto which has'a forked end P, as shown clearly in Fig. 5 of the drawings, and is adapted to receive the crank arm T when the apparatus is actuated to cause the tracks E to drop down to the osi-.

tions shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. aid bar P has. a series of erforations P formed therein and the bar VWis provided with perforations W at its lower end to "receive a pivotal bolt V, affording means whereby the two bars W and P may have relatively adjusted relations. In order to limit the swinging movement of the bar P in one direction, the lower fend to t e bar P and its free end,

. which is beveled, is'positioned in the path ,of the lever P and against'which the latter is adpited to contact. The upper end of the bar is pivotally Y which Is provided with perforations Y an aperture in the rod S and has a late X is fastened at its connected at W to a bar to receive the bolt Y thus allowing" for different adjusted positions intermediate the bars Y and P.

Referring to Fig. 5 of the drawings, a lever Z has forked arms Z which are bent to. form hooks and which engage over the rod S and which lever is provided for the purpose of rocking the rod S by the forked end of the lever engagin the crank arm T and thro'wing the same fi'om its lowest position, shown in dotted lines, to the position in solid lines in Fig. 5. At corresponding ends of the sills are pivotally connected the bars G having curved ends G which are adapted to rest upon the flooring when the rack is-in a horizontal position and as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. When the bars G are not in use, they are adapted to swing back and rest upon the pins G. i

The operation of my apparatus will be the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3, the car is driven up the inclined tracks. 'to the ositions assumed by. the wheels in dotted ines. 1 When the forward axle of the vehicle comes in contact with the bar W,

the forked ,bar P? will push upon the crank handle T, causing the shaft S to rock and which in turn, through the medium of the prank arms S, will cause the two supportmg rods S and S to lower with the forward ends of the tracks E to the positions shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. Simulta neo'usly with the droppin movement of the tracks E, the weight of t e forward end of the vehicle will be transferred from the hinged tracks to the'forward portions of the sill and the weight of the vehicle will then cause the rack to tilt and the leverage action of therack in tilting, which'rack at the left of its pivotal point at this time is in contact with the under edge of the rear axle of the vehicle, will cause the latter to be raised from the floor. When the parts assume the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the

rack will be positioned in a horizontal position and all of the wheels of the vehicle will be relieved of the weight thereof and will be positioned out of contact with the hinged tracks and flooring, drawing the entire weight of the vehicle upon the rack. When it is desired to relieve the weight of the vehlcle from the rack, the operator first swings the bar P to an u right position, after which the rod Sv may e rocked by swinging the lever Z, which in its upward movement will contact with the crank arm T and throwing the 'same toward an upright position and, through the medium of the connecting means intermediate the shaft S and the rod S, the forward ends of the tracks E will be raised into contact with the forward wheels of. the vehicle. A further rocking movement of the shaft S will cause the rack to tilt with the hinged tracks E until through the .itically adjustable V wheels, comprising a the parts assume their normal positions, thus'allowing the car .to run by gravity down the tracks and off the flooring. After the car has left the apparatus, the barP is pushed down to the position shown in, Fig. 3 of the drawings, in which its forked, end is engaged by the crank arm T, thus resetting the apparatus.

By the adjustable means shown, the apparatus may be adjusted for different heights and widths of cars as will be readily understood.

What I claim to be new is:

1. An automobile rack forrelieving the vweight of the vehicle from the tires of the wheels, comprising inclined and hinged tracks, a rack, bearing members fastened thereto, laterally adjustable posts between which the sills of the rack are mounted, vermeans intermediate said posts for adjusting the height of the rack, slotted blocks intermediate said posts and wedges underneath the slotted blocks, the upper ends of said blocks being convexed and adapted to engage the bearing members upon the sills of the rack, boltspassing slots in said blocks and said posts, and automatically -operated means actuated by contact of the forward end of the car therewith for causing the hinged tracks to lower as, the rack tilts, thereby throwing the weight of the vehicle upon said rack.

2., An automobile rack for relieving the weight of the vehicle from the tires of the wheels, comprising inclined and hinged tracks, a rack, bearing members fastened thereto, laterally adjustable posts between which the sills of the rack are mounted, vertically adjustable means intermediate said posts for adjusting the height of the rack, slotted blocks intermediate said posts and wedges underneath the slotted blocks, the upper ends of said blocks being convexed and adapted to engage the bearing members upon the sills of the rack, bolts passing through the slots in said blocks and said posts. a vertically adjustable angle bar against which the forward end of the sills of the rack are adapted to contact, and automatically-operated means actuated by .con-

tact of the forward end of the car therewith for causing the hinged tracks to lower as the rack tilts, thereby throwing the weight of the vehicle upon said rack.

3. An automobile rack for relieving the weight of the vehicle from the'tires of the flooring with cross, pieces thereon, slotted blocks with 'thelr lower edges inclined, wedges upon a crosspiece of the flooring upon which said blocks are supported, the upper edge of said blocks being convexed, fixed inclined and hinged tracks, a tilting rack having sills, bearing members fastened to the latter and adapted" I to rest upon said convexed ends of the blocks, laterally adjustable posts intermedij ate said blocks, fixed .postsupon one of said crosspieces at the end of the flooring, laterally and verticall adjustable angle posts, an adjustable angle fiar' upon each of said angle posts, tuated by contact of the forward end. of the car therewith for causing the hinged tracks to lower as the rack tilts, thereby throwing the weight of the vehicle upon said rack.

4. An automobile rack for relieving the and automatically-opcrated-means acweight of the vehicle from the tires of the wheels, comprising a flooring with cross.-

pieces thereon, slotted blocks with their lower edges inclined, wedges upon a crosspiece of the flooring upon which said blocks are supported, the upper edge of said blocks bein convened, fixed inclined and hinged trac s, a tilting rack having sills, bearing members fastened to the latter and adapted to rest upon said convened ends of the blocks, laterally adjustable posts intermediate'said blocks, fixed posts upon one of said crosspieces at the end of the flooring, laterally and vertically adjustable angle posts,

an adjustable angle posts, at one end of the flooring, a pivotal bar against which the vehicle is adapted to contact as it movesup the track of the apparatus, a rock shaft and means for rocking the same as the car contacts with said pivotal bar, supporting bars connected to said crank shaft, a rod connected to said supporting bars and engaging the forward ends of said hinged tracks;

5. An automobile rack for relieving the weight of the vehicle from the tires of the wheels, comprising a flooring with crosspieces thereon, slotted blocks with their lower edges inclined, wedges upon a crosspiece of the flooring upon which said blocks are supported, the upper edge of said blocks being convened, fixed inclined and hinged tracks, a tilting rack having sills, bearing members fastened to the latter and adapted to rest upon said convexedends of the blocks, laterally adjustable posts intermediate said blocks, fixed posts upon one of said crosspieces at the end of the flooring, laterally and vertically adjustable'angle posts, an adjustable angle ba'r upon each of said angle posts, a fixed bar fastened to the crosspiece at one end of the flooring, upright bars pivotally connected to said fixed bar and having adjustable pivotal link connections, a forked bar pivoted to one of said'upright bars, a rock shaft having a crank arm adapted to be engaged by said forked bar, cranks upon the rock shaft, supporting bars pivotally connected to the crank arms,-and a rod connected to the supporting rods and to the forward ends of the hinged tracks.

6. An automobile rack for relieving the angle bar upon each of saidabar secured to the crosspiece wheels, comprising a flooring pieces thereon, slotted blocks with their weight of the vehicle from the tires of the with crosslower edges inclined, wedges upon a crosspiece of the flooring upon which said blocks are supported, the upper edge of said blocks being eonvexed, fixed inclined and bin ed tracks, a tilting rack having sills, bearing members fastened to the latter and adapted to rest upon said convexed ends of the blocks, laterally adjustable posts intermediate said blocks, fixed posts upon one of saidcrosspieccs at the end of the flooring, laterally and vertically adjustable angle posts, an ad ustable angle bar upon each of said angle posts, a fixed bar fastened to the crosspiece at one end of the flooring, upright bars pivotally connected to said fixed bar and havforked bar pivoted to one of said upright bars, a rock shaft having a crank arm adapted to be engaged bf'y said forked bar, cranks upon the rock sha t, supporting bars pivotally connected to the crank arms, a rod connected to the supporting rods and to the forward ends of the hinged tracks, a forked lever having arms which are bent into hooks and engaging said rock shaft and forming means to return the shaft to its normal position by contact With the crank arm.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS H. SPARKS. Witnesses A. L. HoUeH,

FRANKLIN H. HoUoH. 

